FamBEE.org

Gracie has her K assessment tomorrow! We are all ready and getting a good night sleep.

The funerals turned out great. Here are a few of the flowers from the Tuesday funeral. I am the compassionate service leader and helped organize the family luncheons. Monday we arranged everything for 50 people and 72 people came. Luckily we had food “on-call” in case more showed up. And everything was eaten! It was perfect!! Today the family arranged the meals and food and we just set up the serving tables while the family was at the cemetery. They had a party!! And ate all the favorite food, pizza, pasta salads, nachos, Cheetos, pixie sticks, sour patch kids, and more! It all turned out great!!

And if I Die next week I want a PARTY!!! For the family luncheon I want Costco Combo Pizza and pulled pork Cafe Rio style salad (Vance fam recipe). I want PB&J sandwiches for the kids tables. For dessert those delicious Costco ice cream bars dipped in almonds. And have someone make a huge bowl of yummy “pink fluff” salad dessert thing.
I don’t want anyone to cook! Just simple party style that will feed the masses! On the tables I want pictures of me and my family. And a big bowl of popcorn so everyone can chit chat and munch. Maybe a popcorn machine (borrowed from mom’s school of course) with those cute popcorn bags to hand out to everyone. I want Garth to have my favorite “Neat” mix tapes music playing at the lunch and set up a slideshow and projector (or 2) with all my pictures and videos – it may have to be several hours long! LOL! Have someone print my blog (into a Blurb if we can afford it) book so people can flip through and read the great times.

I don’t know where I want to be buried. I guess here? Vegas? Or probably by Grandma J? Let Mom and Garth figure it out. I want a simple coffin. Clean lines. Beautiful. Simple.

I do NOT want bunches of flowers!! I want just a few simple and pretty ones enough for the tables at the lunch. Have Billy set up a foundation/scholarship of some sort for women in my major specializing in Teaching Graphic Design at BYU. And people that want to send flowers can donate money to that instead.

If I think about the actual “life going on with out me” part of the funeral I start to cry. So make the party fun! Feed the kids before they are too hungry. Make sure the kids take naps. Have a movie (quiet time) set up somewhere. Give Garth his space. Keep his iPhone/iPad charged and sit him down next to his mom. He will be fine with time, I know he will be. Have Dad & Troy take care of the Tech details. Have Mom take care and delegate the food orders and kitchen duties. Hug the girls lots and lots. And take pictures for me! (set it up on a timer and take a HUGE group shot! Have Ainsley help with the remote)
Set out cameras on the tables for everyone to take pictures and then have someone make a “book” of the party and give a copy to each of the girls, Garth, and my parents.

Don’t worry. I’m not going to die. I have way too much to do!! But just in case:

I love you Garth with all my heart!! I love you girls! Take care of daddy while I am gone to my “meeting” in heaven for a while. See you real soon!! Hugs and kisses!!! BIG HUG!! SUuuuuuuure LOVE ya! Whoo-hooo!

I will Go and DO and I will not murmur!!

The only 2 rules we have:
Be happy.
Be helpful.

I have been praying for help with my sweet oldest INDEPENDENT girly! She has a mind of her own!! (she gets it from her crazy mom!!) and sometimes all I need to remember is to stop and give her a big HUG and KISS. Tell her that I love her. Hold her close. And then LET hER GO!! She needs to find adventure and challenge! On her own. I don’t need to control her every move and moment.
She needs to do things on her own without me “hovering” over telling her what to do. She needs to do things on her own. I need to teach her correct principles and let her make her own choices. For instance instead of telling her no. No. No. Get down. Get out. Bla bla. I let her climb around the kitchen and she said to me “we didn’t choose from the treasure box.” I asked her if she could get it down all by herself. “YES!” and she did great and brought it to me and chose and then let Ainsley choose and then she put it away. And got down the Dino Vitamins. And then she went off playing! Much better morning than me telling her Do THiS and don’t THaT.

I have also noticed worlds of difference when I get to bed on the 10 and I wake up and get in the shower before everyone is awake and “needy”. The heavens have opened and I am Actually LISTENING AND obeying MY MOTHER!! she has been telling me this for YEARS!!! And BY-golly it is working! :)

And what will it matter in 50 years if she put the puzzle away all “crazy”. I giggled with her. took a pic and then we did it “correctly” together. No yelling or controlling involved. Just giggles and fun together!!

Life as I know it is going to be changed forever!!

We have been super busy. I got my new iPhone and haven’t blogged since because I forgot my password. But I’m up and running again. :)

Go vote for my Fam. I can win a photoshoot if you comment on my picture and “like” Melissa Davis Photography FaceBook page. http://bit.ly/9wcsD7

——–the contest ———–

Hey you guys! I’m so excited to be having my first ever Facebook photo contest! Of your you guys know that if you win, you will get a FREE photo session, Digital CD and a 16×20 print from Melissa Davis Photography!!

The rules are pretty simple and you can find them here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=195267&id=207034444312

:) Voting will stay open for three weeks! The winner is all up to you guys and WHO you tell about the contest! The most votes win!

GOOD LUCK!!

Melissa Davis Photography & Designs
www.melissadavisphotography.com/

So we washed them off with the dirty dishes. :)

Headed out of town with Lindsey!!!! Going to the Farm.

We had a great Nerd Club tonight!! Dave Wilding, our new co-manager, joined us at the house. Garth presented basic HTML and web awesomeness. Next month, Sept 8 @ 9pm, I will present InDesign CS5

I should have got video. It was hilarious!!!!! We would launch things off and emi would LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH!!!

And dumping food everywhere.

Garth came home and took a 20 min nap. The best part I made him lunch while he was sleeping and then I took a nap while he ate.

I LoVE love love living close to Garth’s office.

We got the year schedule! I still can’t believe Gracie is starting school in a few weeks!! Life as I know it will never be the same!

Gracie has been trying to carry around this BIG baby!! She is huge and hard to carry! It is like carrying a 20lb sack of potatoes!

Watching a movie while I blog and snooze

Ainsley has a birthmark on her hand. It looks like she dipped her hand in slightly colored dirt. And I’ve noticed lately Emi has a similar mark on her left arm. Do you see it?

The doc says it will probably go away as she grows older. There may be a light hint of it forever.

Thumbs up! Emi is scooting backwards.

After the lesson on Sunday I have had a re-charge to do the following challenge our Stake President gave us at Stake Conference a few months ago.  Go to bed by 10PM and wake up at 6am. I know without a shadow in my mind that when I follow these instructions I am a better person, more in tune with the spirit, more patient with my children, more loving, more HAPPY! It has only been three days but I am still trying! :)

As I have been trying to go to bed on time it has also helped me focus on my daily scripture study. This task used to be so easy for me when I was in High School and College.  Every night for years (starting around 11 years old) I would read my scriptures and write in my journal.  But then I got married, started having children, and this daily habit slipped by the way side. I wouldn’t say I am a bad person….. just lost focus a little. I distinctly remember learning the lesson in College, freshman year T-hall DT at BYU, if I attended the temple for Baptisms for the Dead during the week I would make it! I would be more “checked in” to life, homework, job, etc.  On the weeks that I did not take the time to attend the temple, I would be less patient, forget about homework, be late for work, silly little things would slip. I used to ponder, as I was waiting for my turn at the temple (about Feb 2002), about the day that I would go “upstairs” (the baptismal font is in the basement of the Provo temple) and take out my own endowment and be sealed for time and eternity to my eternal companion. It was almost exactly a year later when I met and started dating Garth. Today looking back, it seems like my daily & weekly habits slipped away because they had served their purpose: I found my eternal companion, married him in the temple, and started our family together.

BUT today as I read the Testimony of Joseph Smith in the Book of Mormon, this section gave me an “ah-ha” moment! Joseph Smith is talking about the Brass Plates but I couldn’t help to read it regarding my life and apply the same strict charges to my sweet daughters and our eternal family:

“I soon found out the reason why I had received such strict charges to keep them safe, and why it was that the messenger had said that when I had done what was required at my hand, he would call for them. For no sooner was it known that I had them, than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me. Every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose. The persecution became more bitter and severe than before, and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible. But by the wisdom of God, they remained safe in my hands, until I had accomplished by them what was required at my hand. When, according to arrangements, the messenger called for them, I delivered them up to him; and he has them in his charge until this day, being the second day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.”

As a mother I only have a few short years to accomplish by them what is required at my hand. To teach these girls everything I can about our eternal family, the gospel, good choices, the important eternal matters that will help them make correct decisions and one day find their own eternal companion and marry in the temple and start their own family.  Satan, and all the devils that follow him, are using strenuous exertions and every stratagem that could be invented, more bitter and sever than ever before to stop me! to take my children into the world! to destroy our eternal family!

This personal revelation has given me a new found energy to continue to listen to the strict charges I receive from reading my scriptures daily, attending my church meetings, and listening & studying the Prophets words from General Conference. The purpose of my daily & weekly habits is not complete! I must continue my journey with new found responsibilities in my life. Three new, young, beautiful, sweet, and stubborn responsibilities!

Building stronger leg muscles one day at a time

These girls are growing up!!! Gracie showers now to wash her hair.

It was Daniel’s pirate birthday today! Happy day!! We made our first trip, of many to come, to Springville to party with Meg & Danny & Daniel & Bean.
We played, ate cupcakes, yummy enchiladas, Daniel got stung by a BEE, opened presents, took some benedryl to stop the swelling and visited the animals around the corner. Kangaroo, Cows, pigs, horses, llamas, goose, turkey, emu, chickens, and more!

Happy birthday!!!

Knock knock.

I was looking into getting a bike & a baby carrier of some sort. Any advice? I saw this on KSL for $25

But I think it is silly if I bought it BEFORE I bought a bike! LOL anyone have an old bike sitting around they want to donate to my life?

This little sweet girl WILL NOT stand!! It is so silly!! It is like her feet are allergic to solid ground! She will curl her feet up and hold her toes off the ground! Maybe (hopefully) before she turns one her noodle legs will grow some bones and muscles.

Yesterday our little family walked to the mailbox and the girls rode their bikes.

Sandy is hERE!!! Three cheers for Granna!!! We sorted, washed, folded and put away 8+ loads of laundry!! We cleaned the kitchen!! Made all the beds!! And did I mention – put AWAY all the laundry!!! she ready blues Clues for storytime and then all the girls went to bed! (me included!)

My life is wonderful!

In the Blues Clue book, Blue takes care of his Turtle Turquoise. They are best friends. I told the girls that Sandy takes care of us just like Blue takes care of his turtle!! She is the BEST!

Gracie fell asleep during Q time again!! Everyone is sleeping now! Ainsley, Emi, and as soon as I put down my phone, Mom!!!

Being mom pays off on occasions like this!

It is never a dull moment in our lives! But today we are going home and doing Quiet time!!

The dinosaur museum is fun again and again!!!!!! This time we went to the 3D Sea Rex movie! And of course we picked up ice cream!

I’m in bed. Garth is gettin ready to leave. He looks at the bed post. Then says “what is it Lassi! Tell me what’s wrong! Who has been hurt!?” I couldn’t stop laughing!!!

I’m still nursing. So my . isn’t quiet regular yet. But i was getting a tad nervous. ——pee—— Big Sigh of relief. It would have been fine and we would have made due. But for now I can look forward to my . and staying some-what-sain while raising my three little girlies!!! Fewwwwww

Kris and Dave and kids came to stay a few nights while they went to Lagoon. We also had Christy, Karen, Kent and all the kids drop by too. The bigger kids are going to EFY this week at UVSC

High fever and just plain miserable. Or i mean — she really really misses Opa & GrAnnie!!

After a week together we had to say goodbye to our family. We were all so sad to see everyone leave!!! Especially Emi! (but I think the crying was more for the fever & teething than the goodbyes)

Dave, Annie, Andrew (in Seattle), Cameron, Natalie, Ava, Meghan, Danny (in Utah), Daniel, Zachary, Garth, Jamie, Gracie, Ainsley, Emi, Morgan (in PA).

Christmas card in July :)

There were over 70 people!